to ask ex to pay half of nursery fees?

[lepoardnickle]

We are NOT on good terms. He was abusive contact through courts etc. He pays some maintenance but has never paid for anything else or let dc come home with a toy/birthdaycard/present or anything like that.
Although I've never actually asked.

I'm really really starting to struggle working full time and paying bills on my own. I want to ask him to contribute towards nursery fees but I think he would just say that's what child maintenance is for. Is it? Or would I be unreasonable to ask?

Thanks for all the posts really helpful advice here, i hadn't heard of gingerbread so I'm going to look at them now.

Just to clarify for the previous poster, he only has dc at the weekend, one weekend every other weekend and refuses any more time because he has to work full time. But I can't choose to only be there for my children on the weekends so I can work. So I'm the only one obligated to pay for childcare. It just seems so unfair

You are not obligated to pay all of your childcare, if you are on a low income , the childcare element of tax credits ( paid by the state) will pay most of your childcare and child tax credits will top up your income. There is also child benefit if you earn under £50k

YANBU to ask him but if you are not on good terms he is probably likely to say no. My ex and I are pretty amicable, I claim tax credits to help with nursery fees and whatever is left we split between us.